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British Colonial Furniture

BRITISH COLONIAL STYLE

Typically made of mahogany, teak or bamboo and featuring a range of fabrics and prints with botanical patterns, antique British Colonial furniture and decor varies as it involved local materials and techniques and spanned centuries of design styles.

As the British Empire expanded from the 16th to the 20th century, its conquest and control of colonies around the world bolstered its wealth through the extraction of resources. Including colonies in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australasia, this spread of often violent subjugation imposed British culture, language and faith on Indigenous peoples. The design of homes was included in this expression of imperial power, with government officials, merchants and military officers creating homes mimicking the luxuries they were used to in England.

Local artisans were commissioned to replicate British designs, resulting in versions of Regency, Chippendale, Sheraton and other styles of furniture being crafted from mahogany, rosewood, ebony and teakwood as opposed to beech and oak, which were more common in Europe. Whereas the colonial furniture for the Portuguese and Dutch regularly had motifs of indigenous flora and fauna, the British tended to want more exact reproductions of their home country’s designs.

To escape the summer heat in places such as India and the Caribbean, British colonizers relocated to airy houses in the hills or plantations, leading to foldable chairs and collapsible desks in the style of military campaign furniture. Rather than upholstery as they might have in Europe, chairs and sofas in the British Colonial style had rattan and cane seating for these higher temperature climates. The contrast between the light textiles and the dark colors of the sturdy furniture became a defining aesthetic of British Colonial interiors.

Find a collection of antique British Colonial outdoor furniture, seating, bedroom furniture, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.

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Style: British Colonial
Baker Furniture 18th Century Flemish Style Mahogany Triple Dresser, Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous 18th century Flemish reproduction chest of drawers, dresser, or buffet server By Baker Furniture USA, mid-20th century ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

18th Century Pair of Orange Tall Indian Teak Wood Pillars
Located in San Marino, CA
These pair of orange painted tall Indian teak wood pillars are topped with classical acanthus leaf capitals and come in three parts.
Category

18th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Teak

Mother of Pearl French Colonial Vietnamese 2-Door Cabinet
Located in San Marino, CA
A solid rosewood cabinet with the front richly inlaid with mother of pearl depicting birds and a delicate floral motif. Made in Vietnam for the export market. The two doors open to r...
Category

20th Century Vietnamese British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Rosewood

British Colonial Teak Wood Display Counter
Located in Chicago, IL
This teak wood display counter was once found in a retail store in Rangoon, Burma. It dates to the early 20th century, c. 1910. During the colonial era, business boomed throughout w...
Category

20th Century Burmese British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Glass, Teak

Persian Pictorial Nain Rug
Located in New York, NY
Very finely woven Pictorial Persian Nain rug featuring a pictorial design on a crispy blue colored field. Nain is a small village located in central Iran that has relatively recen...
Category

20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool, Silk

Group of Eight Elephant Head Wall Ornaments, Priced Per Set of Four
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage group of twelve intriguing hand decorated cast composition elephant head wall ornaments or brackets. From the Walker Theater, Indianapolis Indiana. Priced per set of four (4).
Category

Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Composition

18th Century East Indies Mahogany Raj Bed with Paws
Located in Charleston, SC
An 18th century Raj East Indies bed with elaborate carving, carved tiger paw feet, and a finished tester. Often copying Western or British forms, Rajput courts extracted influence fr...
Category

Late 18th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mahogany, Rosewood

19th Century Anglo-Indian Amber Pumpkin Shape Bell Jar Lantern
Located in Southampton, NY
19th century Anglo-Indian amber pumpkin shape bell jar lantern.
Category

19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Pair of Painted Caned Faux Bamboo British Colonial Style Lounge Chairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of tub style lounge chairs in the British Colonial style, each having a white-painted, molded frame of faux bamboo surrounding thye caned back and sides, its bowed crestrail dow...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Cane, Wood

Palecek French Regency Style Pedestal Dining Table
Located in Southampton, NJ
A fine Palecek French Regency style center or pedestal dining table of faux bamboo & braided rope styling accented with leather joinery in excellent vintage condition. Table dimensi...
Category

20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Leather, Glass, Wood

Vintage British Colonial Style Faux Luggage Leather Top Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive British Colonial style desk crafted in mahogany in a three piece construction with a tooled leather top featuring burnished brass hardware, leather strap pulls on the thre...
Category

20th Century Vietnamese British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair of Gorham Weighted Sterling Silver Footed Compote Candy Nut Dishes
Located in Germantown, MD
Pair of weighted Gorham Sterling silver compotes, candy dishes. Very good condition.
Category

Early 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Sterling Silver

British Colonial Style Faux Bamboo and Leather Bookcase
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style bookcase or etagere featuring a faux bamboo frame, tooled leather panels on the sides, shelves, and drawer fronts having classic lion head hardware...
Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Faux Bamboo

19th Century Black Lacquered Wood Pedestal with Red Stone Inset
Located in New York, NY
A black lacquered pedestal/stand in elm wood, with red root stone top, cabriole legs and base stretcher, Beijing, 19th century.
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Stone

Pair of 19th Century British Colonial Child's Chairs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of 19th century British Colonial chairs made for children with cane seats, nicely carved arms and half-moon legs.
Category

19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood, Cane

Collection of 22 Swedish 20th Century Leather-Bound Books
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A collection of 22 Swedish decorative antique leather-bound library books. The books are wrapped in leather-bound covers, comprised of a selection of warm tones and gold leaf print embossing. The book collection measure horizontally is 80 cm, approximate 31,49 inches wide. This collection of books...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Leather, Paper

A Teak Wood Oval Dining Table
Located in Chicago, IL
The natural roughness of the material is what gives this table its authenticity. It is a stunning piece rich in texture and history, and may serve a wide variety of roles in its futu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Burmese British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Teak

19th Century British Colonial Brass Bound Teak Campaign Chest
Located in Charleston, SC
Great quality late 19th century British colonial brass bound teak campaign chest in 2 parts.
Category

19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

English Fall-Front Secretary Desk in Carved Oak, Circa 1800
Located in North Miami, FL
This piece just took our breath away - all the carved wood details and medallions are master craftsman quality. See all detail images to truly appreciate what an excellent antique pi...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th C English Copper Lantern Sconce by Foster & Pullen
Located in New York, NY
Rare English copper lantern sconce by noted maker, Foster & Pullen. The lantern has hinged top, and hinged panel door to allow access to the bulb from either the top or the front. ...
Category

19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Copper, Wrought Iron

Vintage Brighton Chinoiserie Rattan Blonde Bamboo Caning Split Reed Armchair 70s
By Brighton Pavilion 1
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage blonde bamboo, caning and split reed armchair on six legs. This is a handcrafted chair with woven cane seat features bamboo frames and Chinese inspired bamboo patterns. The b...
Category

1970s Philippine Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Bamboo, Cane, Reed

British Colonial Faux Bamboo and Grasscloth Square Coffee Table
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Midcentury British Colonial style coffee table with a faux bamboo frame and two grasscloth tiers over splayed feet.
Category

20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Faux Bamboo

Pair of Anglo Indian Wood Double Arm Sconces
Located in Locust Valley, NY
This pair of Anglo-Indian wood and brass double-arm sconces features a carved wooden backplate with a shell motif, complementing two curved brass arms extending outward. The arms are...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

British Colonial Rosewood Chest of Drawers w/ Egg-n-Dart Trim, Early 20th C
Located in Atlanta, GA
A British Colonial rosewood chest of drawers from the early 20th century. This antique chest from India is made of rosewood, giving it a beautifully ...
Category

Early 20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Rosewood

Vintage African Tapestry Wall Hanging with British Colonial Safari Style
Located in Dallas, TX
77336, vintage African rug tapestry. Reminiscences of an exotic journey and worldy sophistication, this vintage African tapestry wall hanging ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Kenyan British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

Zabihi Collection Navy Blue Persian Traditional Room Size Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
Rare navy field high-quality antique Persian Sarouk room-size rug. The piece is in mint condition as the previous owner kept it in storage for a long period of time. Measures: 8'4" ...
Category

Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

Vintage Painting Still Life with Fruit - Study of Mellons
Located in San Diego, CA
The oil on canvas painting majestically depicts a group of mellons in different sizes. The scene is depicted against a dark ground, however the artist has included dimension by focus...
Category

1950s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint, Canvas

Antique Colonial Hardwood Table, 19th Century
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique, 19th century hardwood table. Of immense weight, carved from a single piece of hardwood, this exotic piece makes for an interesting side or lamp table. The s...
Category

19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Hardwood

Victoria Chair with Tassel Foot, Susanne Hollis Collection
Located in San Marino, CA
Our Victoria chair with tassel foot detailing in our ebonized finish with a light distress, inspired by an original Swedish 1930s Art Deco pair we f...
Category

2010s American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

19th Century Anglo Ceylonese Specimen Wood Desk Companion Tray
Located in Dallas, TX
Another stunning 19th century Anglo-Ceylonese piece. Made circa 1880 in Ceylon (Now Sri Lanka) of Coromandel wood and specimen woods. This is a simply gorgeous and quality item!! Tray made of various compartments with various high quality specimen wood lids, all edged and banded in chevrons of bone, silver or pewter and ebony. The tray itself is made of expensive coromandel wood. There are two open sections on either side of the tray which have bone and hand-painted lac ends. The main tray sits onto a base made of coromandel wood with green baize lining. This tray could have a number of practical uses, for keeping stationary, watches, jewelry, or thinking outside of the box, holding you remote controls and candy!! We have a matching box also in our Inventory and for auction. ANGLO-INDIAN AND CEYLONESE BOXES: Anglo Indian boxes were made in India for the English residents from the early part of the 18th century. They were brought back or sent back to England usually by the people who had commissioned them. From the beginning of the nineteenth century they were imported more commercially, although not in any significant numbers until the middle decades. They were very highly valued, especially the early ones, to the extent that the designs were copied on late 19th and early 20th century tins. Anglo-indian Boxes normally consist of 3 main types:- (1) Most of the best and highest quality Anglo-Indian boxes in the 18th and 19th Centuries were made in Vizagapatam, India, renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship in using ivory and tortoiseshell and lac decoration. These are referred to as ‘Vizagapatam Boxes...
Category

Late 19th Century Sri Lankan Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Ebony, Wood

Framed Traditional English Quorn Fox Hunt Print by Frederick Christian Lewis
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A framed FC Lewis Fox Hunting print. This piece was originally printed in 1835. It features a group of English men in red coats at the infamous Quorn Fox Hunt in England. The scene t...
Category

20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paper, Glass

British Colonial Handwoven Cane Turned Wood Spindle Frame Chaise Lounge Daybed
Located in Miami, FL
1950 refinished British Colonial handwoven Cane Chaise Lounge, Daybed or Sofa with turned Wood Frame and support Stretchers in brown Finish. Bohemian Chic Style with a graceful form ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Cane, Wood

Antique Framed Orientalist Print of "Midday in Algiers" After James Greig 1926
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Framed Orientalist Print of "Midday in Algiers" after James Greig original dated circa 1900. This piece, is a print from the original Orientalist masterpiece, it showcases th...
Category

Early 20th Century Algerian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paper

British Colonial Style Teak Linen Chest Trunk Circa 1950s
Located in Peabody, MA
A large Bristish Colonial style teak linen chest, circa 1950s. Solid brass lift handles and hardware. This trunk served as a coffee table for multiple generations of a family who use...
Category

1950s Unknown Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Historic Corner Commode from Around 1900, After Renovation
Located in Chorzów, PL
An antique chest of drawers from the turn of the century. Very good condition, after professional renovation, chest of drawers finished in polytone. ...
Category

Early 1900s German Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

China, 18th Century, Blue-and-White Decorated Dish, circa 1780
Located in PARIS, FR
China, 18th Century, Blue-and-White Decorated Dish, circa 1780 This Chinese export porcelain dish, made around 1780 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795), illustrates the ...
Category

Late 18th Century Chinese Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Old English Silver Plate over Nickel Ornate Rectangular Serving Tray Handles
Located in Miami, FL
British Colonial style old English silver plate over nickel rectangular serving tray, platter with ornate border. It is in original vintage condition and has some stains and is tarni...
Category

1940s English Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Silver Plate, Nickel

British Colonial Secretary Cabinet from Indonesia
Located in New York, NY
A tall Indonesian antique secretary with twin glass panel doors, mid-19th century. British Colonial style. Polychromed teak wood in two tones of red, plus gilt accents. Three shel...
Category

Late 19th Century Indonesian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

Bamboo and Grasscloth Chest of Drawers
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Gentlemen's chest of eight drawers with a casual elegance and featuring a bamboo frame, grasscloth panels, stylized sunrise designs on the sides and splayed legs.
Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Grasscloth, Bamboo

Early 20th-C. British Colonial Heavily Carved Oak Sideboard / Server
Located in Kennesaw, GA
Love this piece! This is an early 20th century heavily carved oak British colonial server. The apron has stand out detail with it’s plethera of carved lion busts...
Category

Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Oak

Pair of Tray Tables or Stands
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage pair of folding tray or serving tables with woven rattan tops ambitiously crafted with galleries on folding X style bases.
Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Rattan

Vintage British Colonial Plantation Ladder Back Rush Armchairs Pair
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Beautiful pair of British Colonial plantation armchairs with tall ladder back and natural woven Rush seating, Circa 1960's. Oak or Mohogany. Except...
Category

1960s British Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Rush, Oak

Pair of British Colonial Deco Period Armchairs
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of British Colonial Deco Period Armchairs. Made of teak in the British East Indies
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Teak

1910s Vintage 2 Tiered Brass Trefoil Lazy Susan Dumbwaiter
Located in Waxahachie, TX
Antique 2 tiered trefoil silent butler/ lazy susan/ dumbwaiter. Full of character and patina. This guy is more than 37" tall and weighs close to 30 pounds. Lazy susan functionality o...
Category

1910s Unknown Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Century Jamaican Campeche / Planter Chair
Located in Charleston, SC
This elegant British Colonial 1810-1830 Campeche chair is made of solid mahogany and was known in Jamaica as a Spanish chair in the period. This West Indies Planter chair...
Category

Early 19th Century Jamaican Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Vintage Wicker and Rattan Hand Fans
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Unusual pair of vintage fans with plenty of decorative appeal hand crafted with stick wicker leaves over rattan ribs.
Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wicker, Rattan

British Colonial Grass Cloth and Faux Bamboo Three-Tiered Cabinet and Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British Colonial style three-tiered cabinet desk with a gallery at the top over three step down compartments covered with grass cloth and framed with faux bamboo. The upper and lower...
Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Faux Bamboo

Red Lacquered Chest on Stand 19th Century, British India, 1860
Located in Epfach, DE
Red lacquered chest on stand 19th century, British India, 1860 Very charming 19th century chest with wonderful lacquered and gilt flower dec...
Category

Mid-19th Century British Indian Ocean Territory Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

Pair of British Colonial Style Etched Mercury Glass Lanterns or Light Fixtures
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout pair of exotic lanterns hand blown in classic form, hanging from hammered metal hardware featuring etched floral designs on a translucent mercury background.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mercury Glass

Vintage 1970's Lacquered Bamboo Cane Sideboard Cabinet
Located in Las Vegas, NV
A exceptional multipurpose cabinet, circa 1970s. Top has 4 large woven cane "caged" doors opening to 3 spacious shelfs for books, knick knacks etc. Bottom case has 4 large drawers do...
Category

Mid-20th Century Southeast Asian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Mahogany

British Colonial Style Glass Lantern or Pendant
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage British colonial style three light lantern or light fixture with a hand blown glass bowl and brass hardware.
Category

Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Zabihi Collection Room SizeAntique Persian Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
An authentic room size full pile antique Persian Sarouk rug. Measures: 7'10'' x 11'9''.
Category

1920s Persian Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

Ceylonese British Colonial Style Satinwood Ebony Mahogany Hutch Cupboard Cabinet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Ceylonese British Colonial Style Satinwood Ebony Mahogany Hutch Cupboard Cabinet. Item features beautiful satinwood, ebony, and mahogany wood, 3 dovetail constructed drawers,...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Ebony, Mahogany, Satinwood

19th Century Ebonized Jackwood British Colonial Box on Stand from British Ceylon
Located in Charleston, SC
19th century ebonized jackwood British Colonial box on stand from British Ceylon (Modern day Sri Lanka). Two part box on Stand is made of Jackwood with eb...
Category

19th Century British Indian Ocean Territory Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

Beautiful Persian Floral Pattern Fine Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Fine quality Northwest Persian rug with a floral all-over design set on a tomato red field, accents in hot pink, gray and apricot, and a light blue border Measures: 10'1” x 13'5”.
Category

Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

West Indies Carved and Caned Daybed or Chaise Lounge
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial daybed, most likely Barbadian crafted in mahogany with a graceful form, floral carvings, handmade construction, caned seat, back and side, and turned legs with brass...
Category

19th Century Bajan Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Vintage Mahogany Wall Shelf Display
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Elegant light British colonial style mahogany wall etagere display.
Category

1960s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Vintage Bamboo Chest with Greek Key Design
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage bamboo chest with Greek key design. This versatile mid-century bamboo chest, side table, end table or bedside table has style and storage ...
Category

1950s Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

British Colonial furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique British Colonial furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets, seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used British Colonial furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, Asia, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Maitland Smith, Baker Furniture Company, Bloomingdale's, and Ralph Lauren. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $80 and tops out at $88,000 while the average work can sell for $3,161.

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